Close the Circus Down

Concerning the demise of the “poor” Ringling Bros circus, Eric Schoen
writes, “Remember that not only are the elephants out of jobs, but so is
every performer, stage hand, usher, ticket taker all out of work” (Feb. 7).
Did Schoen bemoan the employees and owners who lost jobs when Blockbuster
Video closed? Or when typewriters stopped being produced? How about the
thousands of factory jobs lost to automation, or the millions of jobs lost
to the internet?

No, he did not. But for circus jobs, a viciously cruel part of history
that’s finally ending, Schoen is now distressed over employment. Schoen
further states, “I have questioned in this column before why we can’t figure
out a way to humanely treat elephants to perform in the circus.”

The bigger question is: Why do we need to see such a magnificent animal
stand on her head and do stupid, unnatural tricks – like the heartbreaking
video of elephants running to help their friend who’s fallen off a circus
pyramid of stools? Aren’t animals’ lives worth more than an hour of people
eating popcorn and laughing at them? All circus animals – including bears,
zebras, lions and tigers, have their own lives and friends and babies; why
does Schoen wish to deny them this so that he can be entertained for one
hour a year by a passing trail of boxcars, chains and enslavement?

Look beyond the popcorn: This is what Schoen wishes could be “more
humane.” Thank Heavens we are evolving toward decency and a far more
compassionate, responsible world.

Circuses and rodeos, already wonderfully banned in Greenburgh for several
years, were just totally banned in New York City – and the entire New Jersey
State Legislature voted them out. Unfortunately, the bill wasn’t signed by
former Gov. Chris Christie, who also refused to sign a bill stopping sad,
miserable, extreme confinement crates for pigs. In fact, we would have a
bill right here, if not for a do-nothing, lying, negligent Board of
Legislators who can only find the time to figure out who gets the biggest
cut of money for Playland.

For almost three years, Margaret Cunzio (who calls herself an “animal
advocate” to get votes) deliberately misled constituents on this issue.
Indeed, we have asked County Executive George Latimer to ban these horrible
animal acts as he did the gun shows, etc., having no faith in the BOL’s word
any more.

It isn’t just circuses and rodeos: Rep. Jim Maisano proposed a bill to
get puppy mills out of Westchester pet shops three years ago – and that’s
dead on arrival. Worse, after we received a complaint about a sick puppy
sold in a pet shop here, we repeatedly contacted Maisano and his assistant
Anna Lisa Negro to request they just reach out to the complainant in a show
of support – a mere phone call, an email – and both taxpayer-salaried county
employees shamefully refused to even acknowledge the request, much less
follow through.

If new BOL Chairman Ben Boykins means it when he claims he will be making
the BOL “more progressive,” we request and expect, as taxpaying resident
constituents of Westchester, that he will join the rest of the world by
including animal advocacy issues in this, one of the richest counties in the
U.S.

All animal businesses – be it circuses, rodeos, zoos, etc. – are run for
profit like any other business. When overhead and cost are factors, the
animals lose. Always. Just like the elderly and children, the animals are
the most easily victimized. They are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on or
use for entertainment.

Don’t express sorrow over your sad lost “entertainment,” Mr. Schoen; it’s a
different world. Everyone is empowered now – women, minorities, LGBTQ, etc.
The most voiceless of all, the animals, will not be left out.

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